Memorials of Theophilus Trinal, Student By Thomas T. Lynch. Third Edition, Enlarged |
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| XIV. |
CHESTNUT ROASTING. |
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 | CHAPTER XIV. Memorials of Theophilus Trinal, Student |  |
291
CHESTNUT ROASTING.
A boyish sort of a papa,
I roasted chestnuts on the bar;
Just dark enough to see a star
It was: and Margaret by my side.
I roasted chestnuts on the bar;
Just dark enough to see a star
It was: and Margaret by my side.
We heard the pat of baby feet,
And then our lamb began to bleat
“Mamma! Mamma!” “The little sweet!
I'll go and fetch him down,” she cried.
And then our lamb began to bleat
“Mamma! Mamma!” “The little sweet!
I'll go and fetch him down,” she cried.
The firelight flickering on her chair,
Her gentle footfall on the stair,
More loving made the silent air,
And hush'd my heart to Memory.
Her gentle footfall on the stair,
More loving made the silent air,
And hush'd my heart to Memory.
Just then a chestnut split apart,
And sent a quiver through my heart;
So quick there came—it made me start—
A vision of the days gone by.
And sent a quiver through my heart;
So quick there came—it made me start—
A vision of the days gone by.
I saw myself and little brother
Off'ring a chestnut to our mother;
Two sisters, kissing one another,
Were near, and it was Christmastide.
Off'ring a chestnut to our mother;
Two sisters, kissing one another,
Were near, and it was Christmastide.
And then I saw all these but one—
The fire and candlelight were gone—
I was my mother's only son,
And we were on a common wide.
The fire and candlelight were gone—
I was my mother's only son,
And we were on a common wide.
Dark garments on a sunny day
We wore, and staidly paced our way,
Not wholly sad, and yet not gay,
Till to a country home we came.
We wore, and staidly paced our way,
Not wholly sad, and yet not gay,
Till to a country home we came.
292
Strange medley now!—A wedding bell,
A ship, a family farewell—
A curtain'd bed, a funeral knell—
A night awaked with ruddy flame.
A ship, a family farewell—
A curtain'd bed, a funeral knell—
A night awaked with ruddy flame.
Home of my mother's widow'd years!
Home sweeter for her sacred tears,
And safer for her many fears!
I saw thee; saw my sisters leave.
Home sweeter for her sacred tears,
And safer for her many fears!
I saw thee; saw my sisters leave.
One went to live 'neath India's sky,
Home brighter still one found on high;
My mother then had none but I
Always to love her—oft to grieve.
Home brighter still one found on high;
My mother then had none but I
Always to love her—oft to grieve.
But oh! that hasty, fiery night—
The cry, the effort, the affright,
My mother saved, my fierce delight—
I saw it, felt it all again!
The cry, the effort, the affright,
My mother saved, my fierce delight—
I saw it, felt it all again!
Her dear, revered, familiar face,
Her tremulous but firm embrace,
Our last look at the blacken'd place,
And thanks, forgetting loss and pain.
Her tremulous but firm embrace,
Our last look at the blacken'd place,
And thanks, forgetting loss and pain.
And now—a treeless town, and days
Laborious, economic ways,
A little gold, still scantier praise,
Through all how rapidly I pass'd!
Laborious, economic ways,
A little gold, still scantier praise,
Through all how rapidly I pass'd!
Thanks first to mother's piety,
Thanks then to steadfast industry,
The treeless city bloom'd for me,
And love and Margaret came at last!
Thanks then to steadfast industry,
The treeless city bloom'd for me,
And love and Margaret came at last!
293
Came? Memory, give place to Fact—
Fly, sorrowy Past!—That chestnut crack'd,
My Margaret caught me in the act
Of lifting it from out the ashes;
Fly, sorrowy Past!—That chestnut crack'd,
My Margaret caught me in the act
Of lifting it from out the ashes;
For, as into the room they came,
My Margaret and her Monkey-lamb—
That is our little darling's name!—
The fire sent out its cheeriest flashes.
My Margaret and her Monkey-lamb—
That is our little darling's name!—
The fire sent out its cheeriest flashes.
“Hush, noisy one! there's Grandmamma;
I heard her knock, I'm sure she's there;
Now see if you can set a chair;
And, Margaret, ring the bell for tea.”
I heard her knock, I'm sure she's there;
Now see if you can set a chair;
And, Margaret, ring the bell for tea.”
Old greetings, ever dear and new—
“How are you all?” and “How are you?”
Were given, and down the blinds I drew,
Mid Margaret's bantering pleasantry;
“How are you all?” and “How are you?”
Were given, and down the blinds I drew,
Mid Margaret's bantering pleasantry;
For I had broke her household law—
My soil'd and smoky hands she saw!
Alas! I'm boyish, rude, and raw
In many things, I fear, as yet.
My soil'd and smoky hands she saw!
Alas! I'm boyish, rude, and raw
In many things, I fear, as yet.
Then on a plate the nuts I piled,
As Margaret cried, “Hark! there's the child
Saying, ‘Gentle Jesus, meek and mild;
Grand'ma has coax'd her little pet.”
As Margaret cried, “Hark! there's the child
Saying, ‘Gentle Jesus, meek and mild;
Grand'ma has coax'd her little pet.”
| CHAPTER XIV. Memorials of Theophilus Trinal, Student | |